Coach Alberto Salazar denies lying to Mo Farah over doping scandal

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Alberto Salazar insists he did not mislead Sir Mo Farah over the doping scandal that has brought the four-time Olympic champion's relationship with the coach back into the spotlight.

Farah was reluctant to criticise Salazar on Friday in his first public appearance since his former coach was banned for four years for doping violations earlier this month.

He did, however, cite assurances of innocence he received in 2015 from Salazar in the wake of the Panorama documentary that revealed the practises at the Nike Oregon Project, where Farah spent the most productive years of his career between 2011 and 2017. 

Alberto Salazar has insisted that he didn't mislead Sir Mo Farah over the doping scandal

Speaking on Friday, Farah had said: 'I flew to Portland to get some answers with Alberto, talked to him face to face and he assured me at the time these are just allegations, this is not true, there's no allegation against you Mo, and he promised me. And that hasn't been true.'

In response, Salazar told the New York Times in an email: 'I'm sorry Mo feels that way, but I've never lied to anyone about anything related to this investigation. Before even USADA brought this case, I made public my views regarding the allegations in this case.'

Salazar was found guilty after a four-year investigation by the US Anti-Doping Agency of trafficking testosterone, attempting to tamper with the doping control process, and administering a prohibited method of infusion.

Farah, who has faced no allegations of wrongdoing, will run in the Chicago Marathon on Sunday.

Farah cited assurances of innocence that he received in 2015 from Salazar after a BBC Panorama documentary about the Nike Oregon Project where Farah went from 2011 to 2017